Blower Motor Replacement. Need assistance.

[su45]

My heater blower stopped working recently so I replaced the FSR behind the dash. The brand new OE FSR didn't help so everything I read pointed me to the squirrel cage blower motor.
I'm trying to replace it with a new unit and I'm struggling with removing the blower housing:


The concave extension that juts out on the back is snagging on everything. I can't seem to wiggle it out from either the driver/intake manifold side or from over the beauty cover--it catches on the blower housing regardless of how I try to position it.




Are there any DIYs specific to the M3? There are a ton for the e46 non-Ms which seem to have much more clearance over the intake manifold. TIS instructs to remove the manifold but the cover is snagging on the housing first--I don't see how removing the manifold will help in removing it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Arith2]

Man, this brings back bad memories. I removed that rear firewall and the side ones. Take the beauty cover off and never put it back on unless it's for a car show. You're going to be forcing it out along with the blower motor. I did it without removing the intake or wipers, however it was a major struggle. Here are the actual instructions. There is no easy answer. It specifically says take out the intake for the S54.

[cobra]

Luckily removing the intake isn't the worst thing ever on this car